Processing of fruit to prevent decay



Patented Aug. 26, 1930' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY R. BATES, 0F ATLANTA, GEORGIA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNHENTS, TO

CITRUS COMPOUND CORPORATION, AOORPORATION OF FLORIDA PROCESSING OF FRUIT TO PREVENT DECAY No Drawing. 7

This invention relates to the preparation of fresh fruit or vegetables by treating them .With a solution containing a compound the treatment of citrus fruit such as oranges,

which will retard or prevent blue mold de- 'cay or decay caused by other organisms. The invention is especially appllcable for for example, which are often damaged 1n gathering and packing. by scratching, cutting, abrading or otherwise 1n ur1ng the rind or skin.

It has been found that in gathering and packing citrus fruit for the market that if the rind or skin is cut or scratched blue mold will enter and cause rapid decay that is apt to spread through the entire batch. A single article of fruit afflicted with blue mold will contaminate wash water-to such an ,extent that the'blue mold decay will be caused totake place in a very large number of units of fruit that is washed in the same water, especially if scratches or abrasions, even to a slight degree, are present.

Heretofore attempts have been made to prevent blue molddecay from spreading in fruit that is shipped to long distances by keeping the same. cold orshipping it in refrigerator cars, thereby entailing great expense. Also, certain compounds have been suggested for treatment of the fruit, but are not entirely satisfactory, because of the. effect of the same u on the fruit or the expense and trouble 0 treating. the fruit with them.

By the present invention frult is treated with an aqueoussolution of a solid compound containing the phosphoric acid radi-' cal. The treatment is earned out in such a way that a dry layer 'or film of the compound remains onf the fruit, especially in cuts, scratches or abrasions of the same,

thereby inhibiting or preventing spread of y the blue. mold.

The fruit may be treated with the solution containing the hosphoric acid radical, either byspra t esame upon the fruit or by immersing t e fruit in the solution for a "few minutes. The fruit may first be brushed or washed to remove adhering matter' or did; or the fruit can be treated with inhibit or prevent decay caused by Application filed April 19, 1929. Serial No. 356,614.

'by using a solution containing about one pound'of trisodium phosphate dissolved in thirty gallons of water. The water is pref- 1 erably kept at a temperature of about F. to F. and the fruit is kept submerged in the solution for about five minutes.

The fruit may be removed from the solutlon and sprayed with clear water to wash off the excess solution after which the excess moisture may be dried from the surface and the fruit polished. Instead of using trisodium phosphate, di-

sodium phosphate may be used with very satisfactory results. The strength of the solution with either disodium phosphate or trlsod um phosphate may varyfrom an ap proximate saturated solution to a strength i of about one pound of the phosphate 'to fifty gallons of water, and the temperature may vary over wide ranges and the time of treatment is generally shortened with the extent of concentration of the solution.

After the fruit has been treated and the surfaces dried, a protective coating mate-' rial, such as a thin coating of wax mateterial, for example, maybe applie to aid in preventing shrinkage and maintain thefruit in fresh condition for a longer time.

The use of the word fruit in the specification and claims is intended to include both fruit and vegetables and the treatment with the solution containing the phosphoric acid radical is intended not onl to lue mold, but also to prevent decay or rot from other causes, which are remedied by this treatment.

Although the invention has been 'particu larly described in connection with the prevention of blue mold, it is also applicable to the prevention of other molds and decays due to fungi or other organisms which attack citrus fruits, and the claims are intended to include such molds.

I claim: i l. The process of inhibiting blue mold decay which comprises treating fresh fruit withvan aqueous solution of a compound containing the phosphoric acid radical in such concentration as will effect inhibition of blue mold decay.

2. The process of inhibiting blue mold decay which comprises treating fresh fruit with an aqueous solution of an alkali metal phosphate in such concentration as will effect inhibition of blue mold decay.

3. The process of inhibiting blue mold.

decay which comprises treating fresh fruit with an aqueous solution of trisodium phos-. phate in such concentration as will effect I inhibition of blue mold decay. 1

i f disodium phosphate to render the 4. The process of inhibiting blue mold decay which comprises treating citrus fruit with water containing at least 2 per cent of trisodium phosphate.

5. Fresh fruit having on its surfaces a suflicient amount of a compound containing the phosphoric acid radical to render the fruitre sistant to blue mold decay.

6. Fresh citrus fruit having'in the broken portions of its skin a sufficient amount of an alkali metal phosphate to render it re sistant to blue mold decay.

7. Fresh citrus fruit having' in the broken portions of its skin a sufficient amount of trisodium phosphate torender the fruit resistant to blue mold decay.

' 8. Fresh citrus fruit having in the broken portions of its skin a suiiicient' amount of fruit resistant to blue mold decay. I

' HARRY R BATES. 

